Phoenix, AZ (Basketball News) - Tim Duncan scored 30 points with eight rebounds, Manu Ginobili had key buckets down the stretch, and the San Antonio Spurs took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals with a 111-108 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Ginobili collected 26 points for the Spurs, who can take a 3-0 lead in this best-of-seven series when the teams meet for Game 3 on Saturday in San Antonio.
History is on the side of the Spurs, as no NBA team has ever won a conference finals series after falling behind 2-0.
"We can win there (San Antonio) just as well as we can win here," said Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni, whose team had the league’s best road record during the regular season.
"We’re going to play like it’s Game 6."
Tony Parker added 24 points for San Antonio and Robert Horry scored 10 off the bench — including a late three-pointer that gave the Spurs the lead for good.
Amare Stoudemire scored 37 points with eight rebounds to lead the Suns, who have given up 74 fourth-quarter points so far in this series.
The Spurs scored 43 in the fourth quarter of their 121-114 victory Sunday, and they racked up 31 in the final period of this one to overcome an 85-80 deficit at the end of three.
"We did not make stops when we had to," D’Antoni said. "At the end, we’re a little short."
Steve Nash added 29 points and 15 rebounds for Phoenix and had a leaning three-point try at the buzzer fall short. He became the first NBA player ever with at least 25 points and 10 assists in four straight playoff games.
Nash scored his 26th point on a jumper with 5:43 remaining in the game to set the record.
That shot gave the Suns a 97-94 lead, but San Antonio scored six straight points to move ahead 100-97 — its largest lead of the second half to that point.
Phoenix responded with five consecutive points and regained its lead when Nash hit a three-pointer to make it 102-100. But Horry’s three-pointer at the other end gave San Antonio the lead for good with 2:33 remaining.
Ginobili then extended the advantage to 107-102 with consecutive buckets — a reverse layup and a fadeaway jumper. He dribbled behind his back for the reverse, spinning through the lane and several Suns defenders on his way to the basket.
"I didn’t try to do anything crazy," Ginobili said. "I’m very happy I could make those couple shots."
Stoudemire and Duncan traded layups after Ginobili’s jumper, and Quentin Richardson’s driving bucket got the Suns within 109-106 with 32 seconds left.
Phoenix trailed by the same score when forward Shawn Marion fouled Ginobili with 11 seconds left in the game. The Suns had a foul to give, but certainly didn’t want to use it with the shot clock running down.
That forced Phoenix to foul on the ensuing inbounds pass, and Horry made 1- of-2 to give San Antonio a 110-106 lead.
Stoudemire’s layup at the other end got the Suns with two points before Ginobili hit 1 of his 2 free throws to set up the final play.
Nash took the inbounds pass and dribbled swiftly down court with Parker draped on his shoulder. Waiting for him was All-Defensive player Bruce Bowen, and both Spurs jumped alongside the NBA’s MVP as he leaned into a three-point try as time expired.
The ball hit the front of the rim, and just like that the Suns were in a hole no team has ever escaped.
"They played championship basketball, and we just lacked a little bit," D’Antoni said. "
San Antonio led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter and was ahead 31-21 heading into the second. But the Suns used a 13-0 run to get back into the game, and they carried a 54-53 advantage into halftime.
Phoenix used an 11-0 run in the third quarter to take a nine-point lead. Stoudemire scored seven points during the flurry, including a layup to end it and give the Suns a 74-66 advantage midway through the period.
"He scored at will, and we’re lucky," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich stated bluntly.
Phoenix Suns 
San Antonio Spurs 
